You probably owned one. You probably forgot about it.
Now, the zig-zag headband is making its way back into the fashion conversation from Hailey Bieber’s everyday looks to Miu Miu’s Fall/Winter 2026 runway. Once a familiar fixture of late '90s and early 2000s style, the simple comb headband is suddenly looking relevant again.
It is easy to wear, instantly recognisable and requires very little styling. Perhaps that is exactly why it works.
A familiar accessory, suddenly everywhere.
The zig-zag headband was always more practical than complicated. It pulls the hair away from the face, works with everything from loose hair to buns and takes about five seconds to put on. In 2026, that practicality has found its way back into fashion.
MIU MIU MADE THE CASE.
At Miu Miu’s Fall/Winter 2026 show, the humble stretch-comb headband appeared alongside leather coats, babydoll dresses and polished accessories. The house gave the familiar plastic silhouette a more elevated treatment, turning something once found in a bathroom drawer into a runway accessory.
THE FACES BRINGING IT BACK
Hailey Bieber has worn the headband repeatedly this year, while Bella Hadid and Alexa Demie have also been associated with the style. Chloë Sevigny wore it on the Miu Miu runway, helping push the accessory firmly back into the fashion conversation.
The appeal is in how differently it can be worn slicked back, loosely pushed through the hair or paired with an otherwise understated look.
NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS A REINVENTION.
There is something refreshing about an accessory that simply does its job. The zig-zag headband adds shape around the face, keeps hair in place and gives even the simplest outfit a finished quality. It is practical enough for a morning run and polished enough to make its way onto a Miu Miu runway.
CHECK THE OLD ACCESSORIES DRAWER.
The easiest hair update of the season might already be sitting there.
Sometimes, the pieces we thought we were done with just need the right moment to come back around.
We're making your inbox interesting. Enter your email to get our best reads and exclusive insights from our editors delivered directly to you.
